What does it mean to be an inspirational teacher?

Andrew MiddletonCaroline HeatonNathaniel Pickering

#SHULT14

Learning and Teaching Conference, Sheffield Hallam University19th June 2014

What is good, inspirational teaching?

• What do we mean by 'excellent teaching'? Gunn & Fisk 2013, Tomlinson 2014, UKPSF 2012, HEA Code of Practice 2013

• What do principles for learner engagement tell us?Chickering & Gamson 1987, Mann 2002, Solomonides et al 2012, etc

• What do inspirational teachers do?our survey of Inspirational Teachers

• What do students say is important?our NSS analysis

Comparing like with like? Is there correlation?

What is excellent teaching?External context

• Global teaching quality in HE agenda (e.g. UKPSF)• Teaching excellence understood through definition, practice, evaluation and reward systems (Gunn & Fisk, 2013, HEA):– sector-wide,– institutionally– disciplinary– students

• A reality? - 'contractual engagement' e.g. (Tomlinson, 2014)

What is excellent teaching?Dimensions of excellence

(Gunn & Fisk, 2013 - HEA report)

What is excellent teaching?Current and emerging themes

• Research Informed Teaching• Research Informed Learning (e.g. co-production, EBL, group work, PAL, authentic learning,...)

• Assessment for Learning• Flexibility• Course-wide• SoTL - being evidence-based• Teaching leadership - hierarchical and distributed

(Gunn & Fisk, 2013 - HEA report)

Student Engagement

Ways of thinking about engaging students to promote learning• what people do - behavioural perspectives• how students think and think about themselves -

psychological perspectives• how we value each other - socio-cultural

perspectives • Or, all of these: taking care of different perspectives in

an holistic way

Kahu 2012 See handout

How teaching engages learners

e.g. Chickering & Gamson 1987

Good Practice Encourages...

1. Encourages Student-Staff Contact2. Encourages Co-operation among Students3. Encourages Active Learning4. Gives Prompt Feedback5. Emphasises Time on Task6. Communicates High Expectations7. Respects Diverse Talents and Ways of Learning

See handout

A Relational Model of Student Engagement

Solomonides, Reid & Petocz (2012)

Sense of Being a

Professional

Sense of Discipline

Knowledge

Sense of Engagement

Sense of BeingConfidenceHappiness

Imaginative Self Knowledge

Sense of Transformation

LearningUnderstanding

Thinking

UK Quality Code for Higher Education

QAA, Chapter B5

Student Engagement in Quality Enhancement

"Create and maintain an environment within which students and staff engage in discussions that aim to bring about demonstrable enhancement of the educational experience"

Practice: Values:

• Clarity• Challenge• Context• Contribution

• Community• Communication• Confidence• Caring

What inspirational teachers say... (2013)

NSS Comments 2013 - Good Teaching

Good Teaching

Staff Attitude & Attributes

Staff that are friendly,

personable, approachable,

helpful, and professional

who are inspiring,

engaged, and enthusiastic about their roles and subject.

Support & Guidance

Staff that offer a personalised

and supportive experience who provide students with guidance and

positive feedback that develop their

understanding and confidence

in their own ability and

knowledge.

Staff Expertise & Knowledge

Staff with high quality, up to date subject

knowledge and expertise that

they have gained through

practice or research that

they can apply in their

teaching, along with real world application and

examples.

Content Delivery & Assessment

Staff that are confident,

consistent and clear in their delivery of

course content and

assessment information. Challenging content and

assessments that have clear expectations

and outcomes.

Learning Environments

Effective and appropriate use

of learning environments,

tools and materials both physical and

virtual.

• Students need to feel confident in staff members' knowledge, and abilities.

• Students need to develop confidence in their own abilities and knowledge, so they can develop and take risks.

Building Student Confidence• a personalised experience, even in large cohorts• positive ongoing feedback (not just on assessments)• clear understanding of content, assessment

requirements and expectations• staff who continually check student understanding and

progress

Positive Learning Experiences – Building Confidence

The secret of good and inspirational teachingCommon factors to ensure teaching is inspirational, informing and fosters a sense of engagement

Course Context:

ConsistencyClarity Confidence

ChallengeGood

Te

achi

ng

4 C

s

Confusion

Conclusions